IIRC, this wasput in place several years ago because low agility characters (mostly half giants) couldn't do simple things like build a fire because they couldn't hold five items in their inventory at the same time.

I've just discovered that while seated (at least at certain "tables") everything on top of that counter is treated as if it was in your inventory for the craft command.

I don't know if this is all tables or only special ones, but God it makes things a lot easier.

This is true for anything on the ground or on a table object. If it is in the same room as you are and accessible in that manner (containers, such as a chest for example, don't work) then you will be able to target it with a crafting recipe.

What you can't do is target two of the same item unless they are in your inventory or on the ground.

So if you are crafting something with five feathers, four of them need to be in your inventory or on the ground.